Monday, January 30, 2012

Scenes like this are common in Italian towns. Charm everywhere you look. I was attracted to the great light and the angle of it hitting the window. I was really out of my comfort zone when I was painting this but that is a good thing. You never learn if you don't stretch yourself.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

I snapped these two mapquesters in Florence, Italy. I am drawn to the old versus new in this painting. These two modernly dressed kids and motorcycle posed in front of a centuries old door. That is one thing that is so interesting about Italy. Lots of "old" stuff. I love "old" stuff.

This is painted on an 8 x 10" gallery wrap canvas. I am going to submit it to the Daily Paintworks wheel challenge. If there was a leg challenge I would enter it in that too.

Friday, January 27, 2012

This painting takes me back to my childhood and the blissful feelings that a bike can bring. I loved the feeling of the wind blowing my hair, the sun on my shoulders, and the freedom of speeding past houses and the sound of my brother yelling at me to bring his bike back. It was cooler to ride a boy's bike.

I took this photo in Rome, Italy.

I was drawn to the great light, motion and color. I usually paint whatever catches my eye while looking through thumbnail photos on my computer. Hmmm.... ingenious idea Carol. Also, if I find myself getting too fussy with details I will go back and paint using only the 2" thumbnail for a reference.
I am hosting the Daily Paintwork's Challenge this week and it is titled the wheel challenge. Click on the highlighted to explore further. Look forward to seeing what folks submit.

This is painted on an 8 x 10" gallery wrapped canvas. Think I may keep it for myself.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

I guess this photo could have been taken anywhere but it happened to be shot in Siena, Italy. Siena is a city that is divided into seventeen districts. All of the districts have an animal mascot and each sponsor a horse and rider to compete in an annual horse race in the Piazza del Campo in the center of the city. The race takes place in July and the winning district has bragging rights for a year.

I plan to do some scenes of actual buildings and landscape but have not gotten that far. Italy is such a beautiful country and the residents were very charming and kind. I definitely enjoyed the incredible scenery but the majority of the pictures I took were of people. So....

Monday, January 23, 2012

I did this painting in response to Dana Cooper's challenge on Daily Paintworks. Dana is a very talented artist who is as kind as she is talented. Click on the highlighted words to see Dana's work and the daily painting challenge.

I took this photo in Rome, Italy. I traveled there this Fall and have only painted a few paintings from my photos. I took close to one thousand. I have decided to challenge myself to paint twenty paintings from the trip and I will tell you a little about my experience. This painting looks a little too peaceful to be Rome. I think right after I took this picture a motorcycle hopped the curb and ran over him.

We were only in Rome for two nights and one full day but got to see several of the must sees such as the Vatican (at night!) , the colosseum (during day!) , Trevi fountain, the Spanish steps, ancient Rome, and Michaelangelo's statue of Moses at Saint Peter in Chains church. I have always loved Carivaggio and we got to see some of his work as well. sold

Thursday, January 19, 2012

I know most people think I am a schitzo painter but I just paint what makes me happy. Painting new subjects keeps it fresh to me. This is one of my Boston ladies. I never tire of looking at the pictures I took this summer. I feel like the pictures were a reward for doing all that walking for the Susan G Komen walk. Being able to participate in the walk was so rewarding but my bathing beauty pictures were a bonus. This one is painted on a 4 x 12" gallery wrap canvas.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

This is a commission piece for a client from North Carolina. It is a surprise gift for her husband's birthday. I loved how the Springer's paws were crossed and the Jack Russell's stare made me laugh . I was all over the place as I was painting this. I would be working on a paw of one dog and then jump to the nose of another dog. Kind of confusing. I really like the end result. This is painted on an 11 x 14" canvas.

Monday, January 16, 2012

This is a commission piece for one of my patron friends. This is her neice and nephew and she is surprising her sister with it. The kids were taking a sunset stroll at Rosemary Beach, Florida. There was a large shadow on the sand in the foreground that I had to play with color wise. I more often paint the sand when the sun is high. A good exercise for me and hopefully a good outcome for my friend. This is painted on a 6 x 8" linen panel.sold

Sunday, January 15, 2012

I usually give a small painting to friend's and family's children who are getting married. Most of the time it is pears. Good for me because I love to paint them and good for them to have a piece of art work to start out with. I laugh when I think back about what I put on the walls of our first apartment. I taped matted drawings that I did in college classes to the wall.

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About Me

Hi, I am Carol Morgan Carmichael and I live in Vestavia Hills, Alabama with my husband Dan.I have always loved drawing and have translated that into a love of oil painting after working with some great teachers.
I graduated from Birmingham Southern College with a degree in art education. I taught art at Homewood High School for four years and then retired to raise twin sons. Another son came along two years later.
My subject matter is all over the board. I enjoy painting still life, animals, figuratives, and beach scenes. I use oil paint because of its buttery consistency and forgiving nature. You can't beat the luminosity of the finished product.
I am definitely a work in progress. If you are interested in my work, contact me by e mail at carolcarmike@att.net.